Meeting Space That Feels Like Home

“We are seeing a merging of work and life not only in that you can work 24/7 anywhere anytime and that essentially you are working all the time, but also that the office is starting to look more like a home,” said Joyce Bromberg, vice president of strategy and research for Convene conference centers (no relation to Convene magazine). “People want rooms that are not sterile, that have a point of view, and that are fun, engaging, and perhaps provide a little bit of inspiration.”

One example: The Library at Convene’s 237 Park Avenue facility in Manhattan. Dressed with books, artwork, and comfortable furniture, the 694-square-foot space is designed to be flexible. “You can have that room set up as an auditorium,” Bromberg said. “You can have it set up as a classroom. You can set it up in pods. But you can also set it up with this fabulous sofa and smaller conferencing table — it’s a very big sectional sofa with movable pieces that allow much more informal interactions and discussions.”

Other rooms at 237 Park Avenue include The Club, The Parlor, and The Bridge — all of them decorated accordingly. “Each of our spaces is starting to have a unique look and feel that helps to give character,” Bromberg said. “It’s almost like a place where you would love to live, but it’s a business environment.”